Offense Explodes for 28 Runs in Doubleheader Sweep

MIDLAND, Texas – The St. Mary's bats were hot on Saturday as the Baseball team combined for 28 runs in 14 innings during a doubleheader at Texas-Permian Basin. The Rattlers (8-9, 8-9 Lone Star Conference) came from behind in game one with a nine-run seventh for the 17-12 win and won the nightcap, 11-5.

The two wins secure the team its third series victory of the year and game one snapped a five-game losing skid for the Gold & Blue.

Freshman Caden Floyd (Corpus Christi, Texas) won his first collegiate outing, pitching one frame in the first game, while senior Mason Minister (San Antonio) won game two on the hill (1-0) and sophomore Connor Schmidt (Devine, Texas) picked up his first save of the year with the wins over the Falcons (5-12, 5-12 Lone Star).

Senior Steven Wynn (San Antonio) continued his hot streak at the plate, going 5-for-9 over the doubleheader. He also scored six runs and added a stolen base. Both senior Andrew Perez (El Paso, Texas) and junior Mitchell Caskey (Houston) were 4-for-8 on the day. Perez scored three times and added two RBIs, while Caskey had four RBIs and scored twice. Senior Johnny Hernandez (El Paso) hit a homerun in the first contest, while the team combined to hit six doubles over the twinbill.

GAME ONE RECAP
Caskey paced the Rattlers going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs, while senior Keaton Milford (New Braunfels, Texas) was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Perez, Wynn and Hernandez also had two hits each with Hernandez hitting his third long ball of the season.

The Rattlers used five pitchers and Floyd recorded his first win of the year after pitching the sixth inning. He gave up one hit, walking two and striking out one. Senior Zach de la Garza (San Antonio) pitched the first 2.1 frames giving up four earned runs on five hits with two walks and one strikeout.

The Rattlers got things going early, scoring one run in the top of the first. With one out, Perez singled up the middle and Milford walked. With two outs, Hernandez singled to left to plate Perez.

The Falcons answered with four runs in the bottom of the first, thanks in part to two extra base hits, including a two-run home run.

With two outs in the second, sophomore Ryan McGowen (San Antonio) reached on a throwing error by the second baseman, which allowed him to go to second base. He scored on a single to right by Perez for the 4-2 score.

With two outs in the third, Caskey singled to right and senior Ragan Forrest (Lorena, Texas) brought him around with a double to left center to pull within one, 4-3.
UTPB got one run back in the bottom of the third and the scoreboard read, 5-3. Junior Jacob Koehler (New Braunfels) came in for de la Garza in the middle of the frame and retired both batters he faced. The Falcons put five on the board in the fourth for the 10-3 advantage.

Wynn doubled to start things off in the fifth and Hernandez homered to left to close within five, 10-5. The Falcons answered with two runs in the bottom half to make it a 12-5 contest.

Senior Derek Mueller (Carrolton, Texas) walked to begin the sixth and with one out he moved to second on a wild pitch. A groundout off the bat of Perez advanced him to third and Mueller scored on a single to right by Milford. Wynn reached on an error by the second baseman. Hernandez walked to load the bases and Caskey singled up the middle to score a pair for the 12-8 score and the Falcons went to the bullpen.

In the top of the seventh, junior Fernando Zubia (El Paso) walked and Mueller was plunked. Senior Patrick Fennell (El Paso), pinch hitting for Perez drew a walk to load the bases and UTPB again went to the pen. Milford doubled, but an error by the left fielder allowed him to score to knot the score at 12-12. Wynn singled up the middle, but was caught stealing for the second out. Hernandez walked and Caskey singled through the right side. Forrest walked and a throwing error by the catcher allowed Hernandez and Caskey to score for the 14-12 Rattlers lead. Zubia and Mueller both walked to load the bags again and after another pitching change, McGowen doubled to center to clear the bases to push the lead to 17-12 – a total of nine runs on four hits in the frame.

GAME TWO RECAP
The Rattlers continued to be hot at the plate in game two as all nine positions reached base at least once, led by Wynn who was 3-for-4 with four runs scored and one RBI. Zubia went 2-for-3 with a game-high four RBIs and he scored once. Perez also had multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.

The Falcons scored one run in the bottom of the first for the early 1-0 lead. The Rattlers immediately answered in the top of the second with two runs. Wynn singled to short and with two outs he stole second base. Zubia and junior Scott Short (Ingram, Texas) both walked and Mueller singled to right-center to plate Wynn and Zubia for the 2-1 lead.

In the third, Perez struck out but reached first base on a wild pitch. With one out, Wynn singled up the middle and Hernandez walked to load the bases. With two outs, Zubia doubled to left to clear the bags and give the Rattlers the 5-1 advantage.

The offense kept things going with four more runs in the fourth. Mueller walked and he was sacrificed to second by McGowen. Perez singled up the middle to score Mueller and knock out the starting pitcher. Milford got plunked and Wynn singled to right to score Perez. With two outs Caskey doubled to left center to add two more to the Rattlers run total and give them a 9-1 lead. The Falcons answered in their half of the inning with four runs on five hits for the 9-5 score.

With two outs in the fifth, McGowen singled to short, stole second and moved up 90 feet on a passed ball. Perez was hit by a pitch and both advanced a base on a wild pitch for the 10-5 tally. Schmidt came in to pitch for Minister and faced four batters, walking one but getting his offense right back to work.

Wynn walked and moved to second on a groundout by Hernandez. With two outs, Zubia singled to short and plated Wynn for the 11-5 final score. Schmidt retired the side in order in both the sixth and seventh to preserve the victory.

TEAM & INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES

• Johnny Hernandez hit his third homerun of the season to lead the team in that category. His three dingers are tied for the eighth most in the Lone Star Conference this year.
• The four RBIs by Fernando Zubia in the second game are a career-high for the junior, while Keaton Milford's four in game one are a season-high for the senior. The two are tied for the team high in 2020, along with Hernandez (at Lubbock Christian, Feb. 8).
• The back-to-back wins for the Rattlers snap a five-game losing skid.
• Caden Floyd pitched for the first time in his collegiate career – and picked up the victory for the Rattlers in game one.
• The 17 runs scored in game one is a season high for the Gold & Blue, bettering the 16 scored in the win at Lubbock Christian on Feb. 8.
• The Rattlers have now reached double digits in hits in eight games this season. The 14 base knocks in game one ties for the third-most in 2020.

UP NEXT
The Rattlers and Falcons conclude the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. St. Mary's returns home to host Texas A&M-Kingsville next weekend. The teams kick off the series on Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m. before beginning a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. and finishing things up on Sunday at 1 p.m.